Tag Archives: archives

This has turned into one of my personal favorites, and Topps is reintroducing it to Football with the release of 2013 Topps Archives.

The first thing collectors should be on the lookout are the Fan Favorite Autographs. These will be signed on-card and feature up to 75 different players from you favorite franchise players.

Another set to look out for are the Topps Originals Autographs. Up to 10 of the biggest stars in the NFL will sign an original card and these cards will be numbered to 10. A set that is interesting is the Autographed USFL Buybacks. Up to 10 players will sign original cards from the 1980s and these will be numbered to 10.

My favorite Autograph set would have to be the Framed Autographs 1988 Minis. Up to 25 players will be in this set from the 1988 designed cards. These will be numbered to 25.

Each box contains 24 packs with 8 cards per pack. In each box, it will contain 2 autograph card per box.

The 1984 cult classic “The Karate Kid” is featured in 2012 Topps Archives with autographs from actors in the movie. This was an interesting idea from Topps, and not a terrible idea at all. It matched their 1984 design, it was a classic movie with a large fan base, and it’s in a genre that collectors would enjoy. It just doesn’t fit baseball to me.

But when Topps posed the question on Twitter on what we thought the bonus addition to Archives would be, I thought they were going to go with Major League. And that’s something they should of had in the product to make it legendary.

Imagine a Ricky Vaughn Topps card. Maybe Pedro Cerrano. Willie Mays Hayes? All of these characters would look great in Topps products with their Cleveland uniforms on. Then throw in some on-card autographs from the actors. Leaf has tried this with Charlie Sheen and it got a great response and the cards have some pretty good value attached to them. I would argue if Topps did it, it would be more valuable.

I just wish Topps had done this with Archives instead of The Karate Kid, or even in addition to The Karate Kid. The product is great as it is, but it could have reached legendary levels with that addition.

I guess with the success of this year, there is always next year. If they can’t afford to get the actors from Major League, maybe add a movie from 5 years later…Rookie of the Year. Get a Henry Rowengartner (Thomas Ian Nicholas) autograph. Phil Brickma (Daniel Stern) and of course, Chet Steadman (Gary Busey).

Topps is bringing back the former brand that was last released in 2002 in order to change the game a bit this season with their roster of products. Archives will rehash some of the popular old Topps designs and include today’s players and some all-time fan favorites.

Speaking of fan favorites, inside each 24 pack hobby box will include 2 Fan Favorites autographed cards from popular players of the past. You may also find full memorabilia pieces as redemptions in this product as well. Imagine pulling a redemption for a full game used jersey of one of your favorite players from today or the past? Great move there by Topps as that is something I’ve been advocating for years.

The base set will feature 200 players from today and years past on four different previous Topps designs, (’54, ’71, ’80, & ’84) all prior to my birth. You will also find Fan Favorites inserts and even some relics of game used jerseys or bat pieces embedded into the cards from former stars and today’s stars.

Of course, everyone will want to know who some of the players that will be signing for this product. How about Ken Griffey Jr., Albert Pujols, Justin Verlander, Sandy Koufax, Hank Aaron, Yaz, Johnny Bench, and more Hall of Famers and past and presents stars.

When Topps started talking about changing the game this season, we had no idea what we were in for. If this product comes out as hot as it looks, be prepared for more great offerings from Topps this year. Be ready on May 23, 2012, right before MLB action starts really heating up and save up your coin as it will close around $86.